Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal – Post Match Thoughts
A new week, a new month and what a way to get a tough September
started as the good Gunners put up what is unarguably our best away
performance since we did one on Ch3l5ea in that 2-0 win over Liverpool
at Anfield in Sunday’s early kick-off.
Prinz Poldi opened his Premier League account and from his countenance, it was evident what a confidence boost of a goal his strike into the bottom corner was for him especially and the club by extension.
The German international clearly has become comfortable with the Arsenal play from the left flank. More so when he goes back to help Kieran Gibbs in defence, he actually makes interceptions and good tackles, as evident in the start of the counterattack with Santi Cazorla which resulted in our first goal.
Problem now is monsieur G12oud whose play on the day was a below par compared to the one he had in our trip to the Britannia, with the moment of bother coming in the closing minutes of the first half when he shot wide of Reina’s goal when making it 2-0 at the time seemed the obvious outcome off Abou Diaby’s neat ball to him.
G12oud played alone upfront at Montpellier and admittedly has pulled a good shift doing so for Arsenal but I think he needs to understand that he has to impose himself more physically in the Premier League as well as set his aim right when he goes for the kill at the mere sniff of the goal without always expecting a teammate to be close by for him to lay a pass to.
The man needs more time but patience may not be quite a luxury for him from goners seeing as Poldi has scored and played well so far while Santi Cazorla, who came in after both strikers, has been exceptional so far and got himself a goal and an assist on the day.
I believe he’ll come good, and that Wenger will be very patient with him and load us with the usual talk from the ‘got potential’ file having spent all of £12m to get him. On his (coming) good days, Giroud can (not because he’s cost us half the price we sold him to them) still get us 15 goals this season.
One person le boss has been most patient with is Abou Diaby and boy what a performance from the French midfielder. He dribbled when he needed to, gracefully strode forward and finished a successive 90-minute match by provided an assist for Prinz Poldi.
He avoided the 50-50 balls when he could, thus keeping those feet from potential “it’s a wrap this season for Abou” tackles and consummately lost his marker(s) over and over with quick back heels which opened much space ahead for him.
This is the Diaby a series of injuries kept from our viewing pleasure for so long and his man of the match performance makes the prospect of Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere’s return to fitness by next month quite an exciting one now.
I’ll however be honest to state my worry about Wilshere’s impending return. Yes, the lad has immense talent but he’s been out for a year with a stress fracture… I would be (most pleasantly) shocked if he hit the ground running. Wenger thinks he’ll be back playing in a month, it would be massive to see number 10 back in the mix; however rusty he may be.
Putting Chamberlain in that list is a problem for me seeing as getting Yann M’Vila/some “top top class” defensive midfielder would have meant we could have Poldi and Chamberlain as first choice wingers with Eddie Gervais and Usain Walcott as second choice wingers.
Until then, our trio of Santi, Diaby and St. Mikel are proving what a formidable combination they can be for us all season with Rosicky, Ramsey (like it or not), Coquelin, Chamberlain (when he’s used in midfield) and Wilshere as suitable options we can use for squad rotation to prevent some of the players burning out.
Alas we’ll have to make do with what we have, bringing this post’s focus to our backline. We’re missing our first choice right back as well as our top two goalkeepers yet we have gone 270 minutes without conceding, something we’ve not had the pleasure of for quite a while.
Vito Mannone has done well while deputising between the sticks, which is bound to help his confidence but honestly he has not threatened Szczesny’s place in the first team in spite of his sterling display against the Reds. Carl Jenkinson on his part has impressed as well so far
Much of the clean sheet streak is owed to the defenders and other players further up who track back to defend; most especially Mikel Arteta in his new defensive midfield role. Anfield was the first real test of the Steve Bould effect and the good guys came through that with record intact.
Next up for us is Rickie Lambert and Southampton, a match in which cementing the confidence gained from the Liverpool win is crucial. It’s that confidence I would love to see us take into the real tests in the visit to the Etihad and the hosting of Chelsea which follow the Southampton game.
If we pick at least six points from those three matches, concede not more than three goals and avoid injuries, it’ll be safe to say we’ve had a pretty good start to the season and then hope for the form to carry on all through the season.
Prinz Poldi opened his Premier League account and from his countenance, it was evident what a confidence boost of a goal his strike into the bottom corner was for him especially and the club by extension.
The German international clearly has become comfortable with the Arsenal play from the left flank. More so when he goes back to help Kieran Gibbs in defence, he actually makes interceptions and good tackles, as evident in the start of the counterattack with Santi Cazorla which resulted in our first goal.
Problem now is monsieur G12oud whose play on the day was a below par compared to the one he had in our trip to the Britannia, with the moment of bother coming in the closing minutes of the first half when he shot wide of Reina’s goal when making it 2-0 at the time seemed the obvious outcome off Abou Diaby’s neat ball to him.
G12oud played alone upfront at Montpellier and admittedly has pulled a good shift doing so for Arsenal but I think he needs to understand that he has to impose himself more physically in the Premier League as well as set his aim right when he goes for the kill at the mere sniff of the goal without always expecting a teammate to be close by for him to lay a pass to.
The man needs more time but patience may not be quite a luxury for him from goners seeing as Poldi has scored and played well so far while Santi Cazorla, who came in after both strikers, has been exceptional so far and got himself a goal and an assist on the day.
I believe he’ll come good, and that Wenger will be very patient with him and load us with the usual talk from the ‘got potential’ file having spent all of £12m to get him. On his (coming) good days, Giroud can (not because he’s cost us half the price we sold him to them) still get us 15 goals this season.
One person le boss has been most patient with is Abou Diaby and boy what a performance from the French midfielder. He dribbled when he needed to, gracefully strode forward and finished a successive 90-minute match by provided an assist for Prinz Poldi.
He avoided the 50-50 balls when he could, thus keeping those feet from potential “it’s a wrap this season for Abou” tackles and consummately lost his marker(s) over and over with quick back heels which opened much space ahead for him.
This is the Diaby a series of injuries kept from our viewing pleasure for so long and his man of the match performance makes the prospect of Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere’s return to fitness by next month quite an exciting one now.
I’ll however be honest to state my worry about Wilshere’s impending return. Yes, the lad has immense talent but he’s been out for a year with a stress fracture… I would be (most pleasantly) shocked if he hit the ground running. Wenger thinks he’ll be back playing in a month, it would be massive to see number 10 back in the mix; however rusty he may be.
Putting Chamberlain in that list is a problem for me seeing as getting Yann M’Vila/some “top top class” defensive midfielder would have meant we could have Poldi and Chamberlain as first choice wingers with Eddie Gervais and Usain Walcott as second choice wingers.
Until then, our trio of Santi, Diaby and St. Mikel are proving what a formidable combination they can be for us all season with Rosicky, Ramsey (like it or not), Coquelin, Chamberlain (when he’s used in midfield) and Wilshere as suitable options we can use for squad rotation to prevent some of the players burning out.
Alas we’ll have to make do with what we have, bringing this post’s focus to our backline. We’re missing our first choice right back as well as our top two goalkeepers yet we have gone 270 minutes without conceding, something we’ve not had the pleasure of for quite a while.
Vito Mannone has done well while deputising between the sticks, which is bound to help his confidence but honestly he has not threatened Szczesny’s place in the first team in spite of his sterling display against the Reds. Carl Jenkinson on his part has impressed as well so far
Much of the clean sheet streak is owed to the defenders and other players further up who track back to defend; most especially Mikel Arteta in his new defensive midfield role. Anfield was the first real test of the Steve Bould effect and the good guys came through that with record intact.
Next up for us is Rickie Lambert and Southampton, a match in which cementing the confidence gained from the Liverpool win is crucial. It’s that confidence I would love to see us take into the real tests in the visit to the Etihad and the hosting of Chelsea which follow the Southampton game.
If we pick at least six points from those three matches, concede not more than three goals and avoid injuries, it’ll be safe to say we’ve had a pretty good start to the season and then hope for the form to carry on all through the season.
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